Ring-balance



Feb- 12, 1952 o. B. vETTr-:R 2,585,705

v RING-BALANCE:

Filed Aug. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb- 12, 1952 o. B. vETTx-:R 2,585,705

RING-BALANCE Filed Aug. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 FLow dem' 0r.-

WO @ff Wwf. L

Feb. 12, 1952 f o. B. VETTER 2,535,705

l RING-BALANCE Filed Aug. 14, 194e 5 sheets-sheet 4 Feb. 12, 1952 Q, B, VETTER 2,585,705

1 RING-BALANCE Filed Pug. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 RING-BALANCE Otto B. Vetter, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hagan Corporation, Pittshurgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 14, 1946, Serial No. 690,390

24 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in measuring apparatus.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide novel loading mechanisms for use with measuring apparatuses, whereby the relav tion between a force applied to a rotatable member responsive to variations in a variable under measurement and the corresponding deection of the rotatable member may be controlled according to a preselected law. The versatility of my invention, and the control of the deflection of the rotatable member thereby achieved, leads to the elimination of serious disadvantages in the prior art devices and to an accuracy, an ease of operation and a scope of utility heretofore unobtainable in measuring apparatuses.

In its broad aspect, the present invention embraces the combination in a measuring device including a rotatable member responsive to variations in a variable undergoing measurement, of loading means acting at a point other than the center of rotation of said member, and mechanism interconnecting said member with said loading means to convert the curvi-linear translation of said member into a substantially rectilinear translation at the loading means. With this basic arrangement, angular displacement of the rotatable member causes a substantially linear movement of that portion of the mechanism operatively connected with the loading means and thereby establishes a loading force which is transmitted through the connecting mechanism to oppose further rotation. In one realization of the invention, said interconnecting mechanism takes the form of a rigid link compelled at one end to follow the rotation of the rotatable member and constrained at the other end to substantially linear motion, said other end communicating with said loading means. Further, the loading means in one form comprises a spring; while in another formit comprises a weight either directly acting upon the rigid link or else acting through a lever system. y

By way of illustrating the application of my invention, the rotatable member may be a torus of a ring balance of the type described in my prior Patent No. 2,370,095, entitled "Multiple Ring Balance, issued February 20, 1945, to the Ring-Balance Instrument Company of Chicago, Illinois, as assignee. It is apparent from said description that in a ring-balance the deection of the ring-body is a measure of the pressure differential imposed thereon. In order that the ring-body may come to equilibrium at a definite Cl. '7S-405) erted by said pressure differential. 4 loading as used throughout this specification and the appended claims, I mean the application' of force to a rotatable member such as the torus of a ring-balance in order to establish the counter-torque necessary for said equilibrium.

For convenience in the application of the load ing means to the rigid link I prefer to interpose a tappet or the like between said link and said loading means, in which case said rigid link appropriately may be termed a connecting rod.

Thus, as used throughout this specication and urement, into a substantial rectilinear translation and applying the latter motion to the tappet or the like. The eccentric end of the connecting rod is fixed with respect to a point following the rotation of the torus; advantageously, saidend may be pivotably attached directly to the torus. The reciprocatingend of the rod is connected to the tappet at a point other than the center of rotation of the torus. Accordingly, the

arcuate travel of the rotatable end of the connecting rod will cause stroking of the tappet. The connecting rod is preferably maintained in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the torus so that the loading force will not tend to tilt the torus with respect to its axis of rotation.

Now, if a force is applied to the tappet which resists the stroke of said tappet when the torus is deected from its null position, a component of this force will be transmitted through vthe connecting rod to the torus. At the foot of the connecting rod the transmitted component of force will be further resolved into components. UThe loading force which effectively opposes deflection of the torus from the null position at a given deection thereof is the component of the forcey transmitted through the connecting rod which is tangent to the torus at the foot of said connecting rod. It follows that the magnitude of the force effectively opposing ring rotation is vdependent upon two factors, (1) the force applied to the tappet and (2) the geometric position of the connecting rod relativeI to the torus.. The angular displacement of the torus for any given i head connected across said torus in turn is a angular displacement for a specific pressurer differential, it is necessary to oppose the rotation 0f L the ring-body with a torquecounter to that` ex- By the term function of the force eiectively opposing rotation deflection of the ring-body. Therate off fluid i ilow in the conduit is a square root function of the pressure differential indicated? *by` the; ring.- body deiiection.

Following the example further, in previous ring-balance instruments vthe square root of the pressure' differential usually has 'been extracted mechanicallybyfacam in orderthat the pointer orr pen 4ofy the instrument may indicate Vtheratevofj uid flow direct-ely upon a `uniformly graduatedI scale or recording cha-rt. The follower:o'fsucli-aY cam^mustmove along aliit-con-r tourmequivalent to the curve of'a square root functionof the ring-body deflection. The curvedesignated as A- in Figure 116 illustrates-the patliofthe cam follower in4 extracting the square rootoif the ring-bodyl deiiection, i; e., the pressure derenti'al, to indicate rate of fluid flow on a uniformly graduated scale.

A follower along the contour of curve A in Figure IGIihas-an initialstarting point at deadl center: and requiresl liftofv infinite slope-,atthe initial pointof-4 deflection ofthe ring-body. Thus, the-reason Vfor avv serious disadvantageV in previous. ring-'balance 'instruments becomes apparent. Becauseof the mechanical. disadvantage. inox;- tract'ing square root' by cams loffithe; above-describedicontour,*previousrringebalance flow-meas,- uring instrumentsV necessarilyV hayeY been slug.- gishA andrsomewhat inaccurate in.. their. lowest register readings. This/defect is;recognized` gen erally inthe trade, for conventional .instrumentsare@ guaranteedfto; be; accurate4 only ltor readingsV mathe. upperi 89% ofthe; instruments register.

The; inaccuracy or y conventional rnebalance ilowmeters; in` their` lowest. register readingsr is due kvi'fcfiixedf loading,.that is, tothe use-of. con-I stant mass: counterweights rigidly-connected to thetorus, like the.countervveight Sil iniigure 13; invention emancipatesA the-ring-balance fromA the limitations of fixed loading, and for the rst.

time makes l it. possible. vto provide ring-balance devices-.whichfrespondm changesin the appliedA pressure.A according, to .almost any desired law of deiiectionofI `the torus. The relationship ,between .the pressure applied. .and the deection.

obtained depends both-upon .the type olfloading` 4 curve B in Figure 16. 1t is evident that said curve does not have the inherent mechanical disadvantage of contour A. The slope of curve B is very small at the origin (or initial point of the cam) and said slope increases gradually as the cam contour develops, consequently permitting very sensitive indicationby the instrument near the null; position. The spring-loaded flowmeter embodiment of my invention-maybe guaranteed as reasonably accurate throughout fully 95% of itsregister as compared to the customarily accepted as the limit of accuracy in the prior art devices.

'The-control off' ring deection achieved by my invention mayf-also-be utilized to secure greater accuracy in ring-balance flowmeters of the type wherein thefmotion.. of the torus is transmitted directly to the indicating member, so that said member follows the same law of deilection as the ring-body. The position of the indicating member: thenxmeasures; the flor-.f` :upon: .a .scale graduated according to a square 'root functions.

A; conventional ring1loalance'nowmeter' havinga travel of the indicatingg-means produced-by small rates of iiow, and, if desired; simultaneously to scale. rdown the deflectionsv corespondingf to rates of flow approachingethe maximumcapacity ofthe instrument, so that the instrumentchartmaybe Y graduated as shown. at. 581)l in Figure 14, lvvitlr open graduations inthe lower range'of the instrument. This isaccomplished by loading the torusV with a force which: increasesfmore or lessgeometrically as Vthe ring deflection increases. Sucha loading is achieved in one embodiment ofmy invention by resistingv vthe stroke ofthe tappetwith a spring. 4Such aviiowrmeter maybe read. accurately .throughout-the full rangeof the instrument. FromA this example, itis apparent thatmy inventionmay beconstructed to magnify the pen travelinranyf desired portionof the instrumentfsA range, in` order vto obtainv greater accuracy in that range. This is. accomplished by applying a loading forcer of proper function to thepiston. of the device. Another disadvantage of .previous ring-balance instruments has been that the maximum range thereof was fixed. hy the. mass ofthe counterwelght., and could'. .be varied only by removal oi" this counterweight, substitutinganother of dierent massandirecalibratingI the instrument. Inmy improved ,ringbalances however, this adjustment of maximum range may be made with a minimum of effort, as for example, by the simple translation of a sliclable block to varyV the .eective length of a cantilever spring or to change the length ofthe momentA arm of a weighted lever. Furthermore, since the counterweightisagravity device,..con. ventional ring-balances are inaccurate unless the waysare maintainedst-rictly level. Such instruments thereforecannotbeused upona pitch-v ing, platform, -such asa ship. My improvedring*-l balances, o-n the otherhand'operate satisfactorily under such rigorous; conditions. Furthermore, they varezrnuch. less affected byjarand vibration, since my loading. means .tend .to 'hold the knifeedgeand ways together, in contradistinction tof conventional ring-balances, where the -knif'ege'dge and Ways are paired only-by the force of gravity acting-'uponfthel torus-*and counterweight', sothat any upward tremor imparted to the torus tends to,

separate vthe knife-edge from the way, damage .bothgand cause the pento jiggle and thus record erratically. i

- In order that the capabilities of my invention be completely understood and my invention be more fully disclosed, reference is had to thev ac-l companying drawings which illustratewvarious forms of mechanism embodying the foregoing and 'such other capabilities, principles or advantages as may be pointed out as this description proceeds,or as are inherent in the present invention. For the purposes of clarity in exposition, the following description is explicit, and the accompanying drawings are detailed, but it is distinctly vto be understood that said exposition -is illustrative only, and that my invention is not restricted to the particular details recited'in the specification or shown in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a ringbalance meter incorporating a preferred embodiment of my invention, the 4back plate of the meter housing being removed and portions of the torus being broken away to. illustrate more completely the arrangement and cooperation of parts;

f Figure 2 is a View in vertical section takenupon the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail view of the tappet and related'lparts, vtaken partially in'rvertical section upon the line 3 3 of Figure 1; i Y

Figure 4 isa kinematic diagram of one form of mechanism'for the application of a variable loading force to a ring-body;

Figure 5 is a kinematic diagram of a loading mechanism utilizing a lever;

Figure 6 is a det'ail view taken partially in vertical central section, of mechanism utilizing the kinematic arrangement shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail View, taken partially in vertical central section, of a variable lever modiiication of the mechanism depicted in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a kinematic diagram of loading mechanism utilizing a pendant .weight;

Figure 9 is a detail View, taken partially in vertical central section, of mechanism utilizing thekinematic arrangement shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a kinematic diagram of a form of mechanism for the application of a constant load-'- ing force to a ring-body;

Figure 11 is a detail View, taken partially in vertical central section, of mechanism utilizing the kinematic arrangement shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a detail view, taken partially in Vertical central section, of loading mechanism utilizing a weight slidable along a lever arm;

Figure 13 is a kinematic diagram of a conventional ring-balance flowmeter having its indicator connected directly to the torus, and utilizing the square root type of scale graduation;

Figure 14 is a kinematic diagram of a springloadedl embodiment'of `my invention having its indicator connectedA directly to the torus, and emphasizes the open scale graduations in the lower 'range of the instrument;

Figure 15 is detail elevational view in enlarged scale of a portion of the torus, cam, pen arm, and

chart of the flowmeter shown in Figure .1, and

illustrates the linkage between said parts, as well as the uniform graduation of the chart;

Figure 16 is a chart plotting the relationship between the rateof ilow indicated by various forms of flowmeters and the angular deflections thereof; 1

Figure l'lisfa-schematic representation of two cam contours which make it possible to use uni-v formly graduated ilowmeter charts, contour A being used in conventional iiowmeters and con-l tour B being employed in'aspringloaded embodi. ment of my invention; and

Figure 18 is a diagram resolving the loading force utilized in the spring loaded instrument of Figure 1, with some parts of the instrument kinematically represented.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawings and in the description of invention which follows:

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a ring-balance flowmeter incorporating a preferred embodiment of my invention. The meter is -encased in the housing I9 and is shown as including a conven- Ventional ring-body (torus) 20 provided with an axle 22 at the center thereof. The knife edge 2l carried by the horizontally projecting portion of the frame member i3 (Figure 2) acts as the ful--l crum for the axle 22, and hence the torus 20. Sealing fluid 23 inserted through the lling plug 24 and a partition 25 (Figure 2) divide said torus into two compartments which communicate respectively withthe pressure inlets 26 and 2T. By connecting said inlets 26 and 2l on opposite sides of a primary element, such as an orifice plate or Venturi tube, inserted in a conduit, the pressure differential across the primary element created by flow of iluid through the conduit will cause the torus 2U to rotate.

Rotation of the torus 2B is opposed by a loading force to bring said torus to equilibrium at a specific angular displacement thereof for each measure of pressure dierential imposed thereon. This loading force istransmitted to the torus 20 through a connecting rod assembly 28. The op eration of the connecting rod assembly 28 is best perceived in the figures of the drawing wherein said assembly is depicted kinematically and free ifrom.mechanical detail. Reference is made to Figure 14 for this purpose.

' The connecting rod assembly 28 is constrained at one end 29 to follow a point on the torus 20 as saidtorus rotates. The other end 3U of said assembly 28 is constrained to reciprocating motion only. It is apparent that the arcuate travel of' the end 29 will cause translation of the end 30 re gardless of the position or length of the assembly 28, except when the end 30 coincides with the axis of rotation of the torus 20. Now, if translation of the end'30 is resisted by a force applied to saidend 30, a component of this force will be transmitted through the -assembly 28, and a further component of the transmitted force' tangent to the ring at the end 29 will constitute the force eectively opposing' ring rotation.

Although my invention embraces all positions and all effective lengths of the connecting rod assembly 28 respective to the torus 20 'with the single exception mentioned above, I preferk that said assembly 28 be positioned vertically (as shown in Figure 14) when the torus 20 is in the null position. With such an arrangement the application of a loading force seats the way 22 more firmly upon the knife edge 2|. Thus, the torus 20 is damped against vertical vibration and the instrument is less susceptible to jar than previous gravity-loaded ring-balances.

vReferring now again to Figures 1 and 2 the connecting .rod assembly 28 comprises two sections of shaft joined'by a circular yoke 3l to cir' cumvent the knife/.edge 2| and way 22. The

, upper shaft section 32' terminates at one end 'Z instheiacon-icalcpivot 'eandfat the other. --endrinY afithmeademforkedcsleevc 4: Thezsleevef34 strad. dlesothetyokefiiau which: is z riveted .fin the :fork @of` sadasleeve. 4The:threaded engagement. between The knife edge 38;:bearsrupomthe'rway `3:9v rigidly fastenedztb dihetorusiil'; Thethreadedengagementbet-ween thelshaftsection and thesleeve zpermitsfsiadtistment of the distance between ttie'ynke'sS l .fand tlielway: 3 9...

Eer. convenience in the. application of azloadving force,.a.tappet 40 (best. shownin Figure .3)

isprov-ided. at the. reciprocating .endl .of theiconnecting'rodassembly 28. Thebaseof thetappetr Af is conically recessed to 'furnish a way 4i.

1 for: receptionofr-the conical: pivot 33-A cylindrically-bored. block.' 42. threadedinto anfarm'ziof. a frame member 43 journals the tappet r43.' between. ball bearings 44. Vertical slots 45 in the collar 42 'carry a .pin 45. whichv piercesthe tappet 4D, Theconstraint ofthe slots -45Y upon thespin 4t preventsthe .tappet- 40 from rotating about its.longitudinal.;axis but permits reciprocation of said' pistonl vertically along said axis.

.A nutfll .is'threaded upon the upper end of the tappet 40 and a spherical bearing 48 carried uponthe top surface of saidnut forms a contact to the loading: means; hereinafter described. The threaded engagement. between the nut 41 andV the tappet 4i) permits ne adjustment of said contact. A locknut 49, is. provided below the nut 41. to safety the latter after this adjustment has been made.

The' bearing 48 makescontact. with a cantilever sprin'gf which generatesthe loading. force transmitted to theJtorus. 2l)` through. the tappet 40 and connecting rodassembly 28. The spring 5U. issupported by and xed at thexend remote i fromthebbearingw to the bracket 5l fastened to theframemember 43. The bracket I is 'adapted to removal from the frame casting 43 when itis' desired. tochange rthe type ofloading imposed updnrthefiinstrum'ent'.-

At the'null position of the'torus 20, the spring 50. rests very lightly upon the bearing'48 (Figure 3).. In the event that the spring 50 deviates from Hooks law during theinitial portion of its deection, thisY source ofinaccuracy may be effectively circumvented by placing the spring 50 under an initial load, counterbalanced by an. appropriate counterweight. When the torus is forced to rotatethe Way 39 will be carried along thearc of the-ringfbodys'deiiection The knife edge 38"wi1lrb'e deflected similarly, thus lifting, as wellfas angularly displacing, the connecting rod'zassemblyifZB. rlh-econnecting rod assembly `28.will push the tappet 40 against the spring 59 81 action'of Vthe springf 50 `vis .independentiofglaiv'ity..v this instrument need not .bellevelled .before/use and thus is adaptable ,tovapplicationstuponfinfclined or pitching platforms.

How-ever; the I principal. advantage ofthis embodiment'ofzmy invention derives fromwthelaw of. deflection imposed zuponf the ring-body. rZEhe :.dee'cti'onA of itherring -body depends .upon the mas-.- ni'tudef. ofthe? force urging the ring; in: rotation: inl relaibn to thefforceeifectively opposing said rotation:` The-'natm'e of the force urging; the ring.

inzrotatione is *understood* as the pressure :differ-Y en'tialiapplied across.` saidrring. :The nature-of the. opposing force.: may bei. derived from anfexaminationliof' the 'force diagram' 'ofxFigure-i. :1n-l Figurev 18, the'point C represents'thet centero rotation;of` .the-5 torus 2 0, and thei .arc representsthebodyxof. rsaid torus'. The linefB-E .de-A lineates the'f-connecting rod assembly 282when'f-tl1e` torus 2U is at rest, and the line'AF'depicts' said connecting 'rod vassembly when: said :itorusi` isideflectedtthrough .the angle.y 0.' The line- J K repre-f sent'sth'e lspri-n'g 59: when the. vtorus V201is atzrest and-thelarchK depictsY the 'spring 5G `when said'v torusisldeflected through `the angle -0;

The force exertedbyY Athe-.spring will Ybe transmitted tothetorus'fz 0' tlirough'th'eiconnecting rod assembly 28, andthe'component of rsaid force'which effectively opposes'ring rotation will always be "tangent'to .'therin'g .atftlie footioftiie' connecting rod. I

-Letf the vector I-IE vrepresent 'thefsaid`- effective component' ofv the loading lforce'." Construct-the Vector AG parallel and equalto' llet`-FLtlie force exertedbythe spring 50,' and: AB===the displacement ofs'aid"sprng'whemthe ring has rotated through the'angle 01 then,- accordingto Hookslaw: y

Let P=the 1ength-of me-connectmg. md. as

i sembiy 2a and Rf=the .radius of the. torus 20. Then substi-V tuting P and R in equation (19') S'lnce' and P are corgistants in anygiven instrument:

(26) AB oc (versine 0-versine From equation (8): n

(27) F o: (AB) From equation (7): i

(28) HF=F` sine (fi-) (29) HF r AB sine (li-) Substituting for AB from equation (26) z the function (versine -versine upon ring deflection is that said deflection is approximately proportional to the square root of the pressure differential applied to the ring instead of being directly proportional to said pressure differential as is the case in a conventionally-loaded ringbalance. Since rate ofv flow is also a square root function of the applied pressure diiferential, it is apparent that ring deflection in my spring-loaded ring-balance is more nearly a direct measure of rate of flow than it is a measure of applied pressure differential.

Figure 16 graphically compares the relationship of rate of flow to ring deflection in my spring-loaded, ring-balance to the same relationship as it exists in a conventional ring-balance. In Figure 16, ring deflection in percentage of the maximum deflection is plotted as the abscissa variable against flow in percentage ofthe maximum flow as the ordinate variable. Curve A represents the relationship for a conventional-ringbalance when plotted on a uniform flow chart, and curve B the relationship for the springloaded ring-balance.v In other words, assuming that 50% of the maximum rate of flow that may be measured by the instrument produces a given' pressure differential across a given primary element, it may be read from curve A that said pressure differential resulting from said 50% flow Iproduces 25% of maximum deflection in the tor-us travel, that to indicate 40%. of maximum flow the pointer should be displaced 40% of its maximum' travel, and so throughout the whole range of the instrument. Assuming now that the indicating pointer is connected to the torus so that said pointer follows thesame law of deflection as said torus, we may substitute ring deflection for pointer travel in the above definition of uniform flow indication, YCurve C of Figure 16 is a straight 10 line illustrating this optimum relationship, i. e. indicated fiow being always directly proportional to ring deflection.

As curve A of Figure 16 illustrates, the conventionally-loaded ring-balance is far from realizing a linear relationship between indicated flow and ring deflection. Because the loading force opposing ring rotation in my spring-loaded ringbalanoe varies approximately as the function (versine o-versine this embodiment of my invention comes much closer to realizing said linear relationship. However, in both types' of instrument, a cam may be interposed in the linkage between the torus and indicating pointer to attain pointer deflection strictly proporional to the rate of now under measurement. In the conventional ring-balance such a cam mechanically extracts the square root of ring deflection, thus producing motion in the cam follower and indicating arm linked thereto equivalent to increments of flow. The cam contour required in the conventional ring-balance to obtain a linear relationship between indicator deflection and rate.

of flow will be substantially like curve A (see also Figure 17). It is apparent from Figure 17 that the cam follower riding upon cam A is in dead centerA position at the initial point of the camand must rise sharply upon a curve of great slope immediately upon leaving said initial point. It has hereinbefore been pointed out that the inherent characteristics of such a cam are responsible for the sluggishness and inaccuracy ofprevious ring-balance instruments in the lowest 20% of their ranges.

Now, in the embodiments of my invention wherein theeifective loading force varies as the function (versineV 0`versine ,6) the cam contour required to obtain a linear relationship between indicator deflection and. rate of flow will be substantially like curve B. A cam contour like that of curve B possessesnone of the mechanical disadvantages inherent in curve A. Curve Br rises With very small slope at the initial point and said slope increases gradually as the curve develops.A

The result yof employing such a cam in an instrument embodying my invention is a marked increase of sensitivity and accuracy of said`in` strument particularly in the operating region where ring torque is minimum.

Referring now again to Figure 1, it may be seen that a cam 52, of a contour similar to that of cam B in Figure 17, is carried by the webbing' 56 may be utilized to transmit the motion of the cam follower 54 to a valve (not shown), or other control means, if the instrument is to be used for control purposes,for example, as a liquid level regulator. j y

A linear relationship between rate of flow and indicator deflection is frequently not specified in various flow applications. sometimes preferred to use an open-scale chart 58a as shown in Figures 13 and 14, and to calibrate said chart in non-uniform flow graduations. In such case, no cam is employed in the linkage between thetorus'an'd the indicatingarm, and the indicating arm follows the same law of deflection as the torus. y

For example, it is Y opening of a valve in the' fluid line.

assieme '-F-igureolaillustrates @the calibration of :anfopenscale .chart 15811.. on. asquare root: scale tosindicatef ow units for a, conventional ring-balancefloaded with acounterweight. Figure. 14 illustrates thecalibration of an .open-scale .chartrtvior the-same purpose whenethe-ring-ba1anceis springloaded through a tappet and connectingfrodas.: taughtby my invention. It is apparen t.;tha'.t;itis` impossible to read` accuratelyA the .register `ofthe conventional. ringfbalance `below 25%of maxi- Y mum Vflow because. of.the..cro.wding ofthe .graduations., `The reason for. thiscrowding rnaysbeiper-` ceivedfrom. curveA of Figurel. Readingupon. CurveLA, it will he .noted that of maximum; flow. produces. only 1% .of maximurnring deflectionrand that ,2.0% .of maximum, flow causesnly 4% `of maxmumring deeoton. Since the indi.- catingarm, follows Vthe same. law of.,.deiQtion .as the. ringrit is, apparent that very smallincrements of. indioatingarm -travel inthe lower nortio.r.1 .,o.f

Y the. register vsignifi' large .increments ,of-f1o..w, .thus

necessitating thecrowding .of .a great .110W araduationsina very small .percentage of .total indicating arm travel. Y

Qn the other hand,A reading upon curve-.Bof Figure, v16 itWill :be noted that L10 of maximum Vflow-causes 21% of maximumring deflection and of maximumk flow Yproduces 34%.of maximum ring d eiiection. I neifect, the above examples mean that-ringvrotationrelative...to rate of flow is greatly magnified in the lower region of. theregister of the sprngloadedembodiment of my invention. rIhis magnicationis evident in the chart 58h oflFigure 14,` which c h/artmay be read accurately tl'uoughout` the. ,full range VYof the instrument. Furthermore, since the greater increments of now occurin the lowerlpart ofthe scale,^this` embodiment of my invention is par.- ticularly adaptable'to applications wherein the instrument is regularly required to Lmeasure the flow of very slowly moving fluids. Still further, considering my invention in its broadest aspects, it may be perceived that the'increments ofY flow may be magnified in any portion ofthe 'register simplyY by applying a variable loading force of proper function through my tappet land connecting rodto the torus.

The versatility ofv my invention ngmagnfying..

ring deflection in any vportion ofthe instruments register is a most. important advantage, especially when utilized inv control instruments'. For example, it is frequently desired to stabilize the rate ofv fluid' flow av conduit .atga pre-selected' critical value. For this purpose, the deii'ection of' a owmeter to either side ofa positionrepresent-- ing said critical value is, employed 'to regulate the The prin.- cipal disadvantage vof' previous instruments is that they respondi too. quickly to vfluctuations,,in line pressure,v i. e., ,are highly sensitive, thus causing the control instrument to overcompensate. This in turn necessitatedfurther compensation, with the eventual Vresult that the instrument constantly fhunted the critical rate'l of ow. By the use of my invention to magnify ring denectio'n. near the criticalrate of. flow, ahighly .desirable time lag may be introduced between deflectionof the ring from the fcritical value andv the actua.-

tion of the control fvalvewithout-sacrificing any of the instruments accuracy and indeed-even increasing the same. ',I,'l1;us, the.` linepressure nuctuation is merelyr momentary', the flowmeten willv return -toV the critical value before. the'feon-l trol valve is actuated; therebyeliminatingthe` hunting characteristic of previous instrumentsl and greatlinstabilizingftherateroffowcintheline.

An object of my invention, previously stated,k :isfto simplifythe I,process ofchangingthe maximum range of a ring-balance instrument. It is evident that the structure of any ringbalance limits-the torus to a relatively Y small maximum angle .or deflection. When the differential pressure applied to the ring is so great astofbringfthe torus against its upper.,limit offrotation, the maximum range of the instrumentlhas beenexceeded and. the instrument is inoperative. .Y However, if the loading force-is also increased sol thatthe torus deetltll` is decreasedgto rfall again p within the operatinglimits of rotation, ,the maxiniurnrange of `the instrument has been increased andthe instrument is again operative..

In vprevious ring-balances, this vresult was. achieved by removing the counterweight attached to the-torus and substituting anew coun".-`v terweight ofY greater mass,vor' by aiixing additional range-Weights to the torus. In comparison. therewith, the maximum rangeof `the.flou/meter under description Ymaysloe changed bymerely adjustingv the effective lengthV of the cantilever. spring '50, thereby increasing or decreasingthe resistance of'vsaid spring against deflection. In Figure l, there-is illustrated a blocklilslidajblygv engaged upon -the spring 50. dThe blockt'l is pierced vby a threaded shaft EZrotatably journalel atene -endin the bracket 35| and extending contiguous and parallel'to thespring `50, A knnrlet knob y63 `is keyed upon the end lofthe vshaft 6'2".' A turn'of the Aknob yt3 -rotatesthe-sliaftg62 andtranslates thef'lolock 61"V a'l'ongfthe'spring '50'. A set screw 64 is-providedv-in thev block 61 tobear upon the spring 50, whereby the said block-may be securedy at the desired position along' said spring. It isl apparent y-that the springgil maybel deflected onlyfin vthe portion thereof extendingA beyondY the edge of the block-6 #nearest the bearing 48. Thus, the stiirness ofthe-springill-maybe increased by translating theblock-'B I" towards the bearing-48,1 'therebyfincreasing the -force sa-id spring will exert undertension. This follows" from ^the rela-tion v i Where AB is theY denection of thespring 5 0 at the point of contact with the ltappetll'll', li"is there'- Storing .force ofthe Springi5,.1"is.the 4effective length of. the sprinagE is the modulus .of elasticity andl I is the. moment of inertia. It therefore `fol'- lows that areduction ofthe length of thespring .l by one-halfincreases themaximum range of thev instrument (proportional to. El by eightffo'ld. Therefore the VmaximumV range ofthis springloaded ring-balance maybe adiiust'ed simply4 by a turn ofthe knob '63'Without'the substitution or addition of'rafnge-weights or any other parts;

Although the vpreferred.form of 'my invention. shown in Figure 1 utilizes ra Ycantil'ever'spring to. accomplish a. variable force loading ofthe instru;- ment,4 it `is understood that'other arrangements equivalent'to..said-cantilever spring may'be also employed.` In Figure 4'; there is''kinematically presented a ring-balance loaded Vby a helical spring v; Figure illustrates a slightmodiflcation Aof .Figure 4 rin that the' helical spring 65' is fastened between albeam Stand an extension of"v the'frame member 43'.' Figure 6' provides mechanical details amplifying-the kinematic diagram of Figure 5.l The beam titis pivoted-at''lin the -f'ramememberr e Ther-nut 41 is-adusted so that-the beam@ 66* sgassyrc touches very lightly kupon the bearing 48 when the torus 20 is in the null position. Rotation of the torus 20 will cause upward translation of the tappet 40, angular displacement of the beam 66, and extension of the spring 65. The extension of the spring 65 applies a loading force to the torus 20 which varies in accordance with Hooks ylaw exactly as does the force applied by the spring 50 in the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 7 shows a mechanical arrangement similar to that of Figure 6 except that the beam 66 is adjustable in effective length. The beam 68 is held against lateral movement by the pin 69 constrained to move along the arcuate slot 68, the pin 69 being substantially smaller in diameter than the width of said slot 68. A knife edge 10 at the end of a threaded shaft 1I bears upon the top surface of the beam 66. The shaft 1l is positioned parallel to the beam 66 and is threadably engaged in the frame casting 43. A knurled knob 12 is provided at the end of the shaft 1|. A turn of the knob 12 rotates the shaft 1| and translates the knife-edge 10 along the beam 66, in effect providing said beam with an adjustable fulcrum.

Because of the clearance between the pin 69 and .a turn of the knob 12 serves to change the range of this instrument as simply and as eifectively as does a change in the effective length of the leaf spring 50 in the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate kinematically and in mechanical detail respectively the application of a variable force loading without the use of a spring. Here the bearing 48 is in contact with a horizontal lever 13. The lever 13 is rigidly connected to a ring 14. The ring 14 is supported by a way 15 resting upon a knife-edge 16 fixed to the frame casting 43. A threaded shaft 11 projects from the nether portion of the ring 14 and a weight 18 is screwed upon this shaft. As the ring-body rotates, the lever 13 will be borne upwards by the bearing 48. The vertical movement of the free end of the lever 13 will cause rotation of the ring 14 and consequently the weight-carrying shaft 11 will be angularly displaced from its vertical position. Gravity, acting upon the weight 18, will exert a force tending to restore the shaft 11 to its former vertical position. This force of gravity will be transmitted through the lever 13, the tappet 40, and the connecting rod 28 to the ring-body 20. This transmitted force' is equal to the mass of the weight 18 times the sine of the angle qs depicted in Figure 8 (F=M sine 1p) Within the limits of operation of the instrument, 1 is always a small angle. Since the sine function of small angles is substantially linear, the force transmitted to the tappet is a variable of constant rate of change just as is the force generated by a spring in accordance with Hooks law. Thus, a ring-balance loaded by a weighted bell-crank arrangement as shown in Figures 8 and 9 will follow substantially the same law of deflection as will the springloaded instruments previously described.

Although this description has so far placed 'con-a tion is adapted to constant force loading equally as Well. Thus, I may fasten a range-weight 19 directly upon the tappet 40 as shown in the diagram of Figure l0 and in the mechanical detail of Figure 11. Figure 12 illustrates how the eiect of a similar weight may be multiplied by placing said weight at the end of a moment arm, exemplified by the beam 66. The length of the moment arm may be changed by fitting the weight 8D to slide upon the beam 66, thereby providing simple and effective means for adjusting the maximum range of the instrument. A set screw 8| serves to secure the position of said Weight along said beam.

The ring of a constant force loaded embodiment of my invention, as depicted in Figure 12, follows the same law of deection as the torus of a conventional ring-balance (see Figure 13). Thus if the spring JK of Figure 18 is replaced by a weight W1, then the force exerted upon the tappet 40 may be expressed as H A where HF is the tangential force opposing rotation of the torus, it follows that As previously indicated, within the normal operating limits of the torus 2U, the function sine (0-) is substantially linear. On the other hand, if the loading is effected by a weight W2 affixed to the torus 2D (for example, the weight 60 of Figure 13), then, upon rotation of said torus through an angle 0, a'tangential component equal to W2 sine a opposes further rotation. This function, too, is substantially linear within the operating limits of the torus. Actually, however, the Weight loading imposed on the torus 20 using the arrangement of Figure 11 or 12 more nearly approaches a linear function than does the conventional weight loading of Figure 13.

Thus, I can easily adapt my invention to operate like a conventional ring balance, and to use the same recording charts, wherever this is deemed desirable as, for example, when it is preferable to magnify indicating arm travel in the uppermost portion of the register. My invention, however, still maintains inherent advantages over the instruments of the prior art. Instruments embodying my invention may be used where they are subject to jar and vibration since the application of the loading force through la vertical connecting rod acts to maintain the knife edge and way at the center of rotation iny constant contact. The adjustment of maximum range by merely shifting the weight 86 along the beam 66 is a considerable improvement over the.

prior art method of substituting or adding rangeweights.

The great advantage of my invention, however,

is its versatility. By the application of a proper loading force through my load-transmitting sub-l to its new application. For example, to modifyA Y awstats stamt forceloading; itiis only necessary to remove the uspringesupporting. bracket yi (Figure l) the nuts'fli?! andJi-S", andato =screw`the weight F19' (Figure: 11') :upon Athe stappetill. The .reverse process isioficourse,v equally simple.

roxnttheifo'regoing, it is apparentzthatlhave invented. navel.- pressureresponsive precision :instruments which possess Anumerous advantages hereinbefore .specied over instruments for similar purposes previously .known and used. While IfrhaveV .describedrmy'invention as embodied Vin specificvforms Y. and .as operating in specific mannersifor Vthe'purpose's :of illustration, 'it should be imderstoorl;,that .I do. not-limit my invention thereto, sincezyari'ous m'odications no doubt Will suggest themselves to those skilledin the art without; departingfromY `the Ispirit rof my invention, 'the'isc'opezof which is set forth .in the' -annexed aclain's.V

. Ilclaim. l

.1` nmeasuling. .apparatus including an-e'lementzrotatably responsive to variations in Athe `magnitude of a Variable: undermeasurem'ent, the

combination with said element of loading means comprising: a rigid membersubstantially radially disposed with respect .to saidelement when' said apparatus is in the null position, means spaced from the axis of'rotation of said element compelling-aa portion of said'member to fol-low the rotation of said elementi meansior Aconstraining to substantially linear translation another portion of said member spaced from said first portion, andnfieans resisting said translation of said otherportion-asfsaid elementrotates.

2.r In .measuring apparatus including an element rotatable about its axis of rotation in responsevto variations :in a variable under measurementpthe combination with said ,element of loading means comprising: means yieldably resisting deilection, a vmember pivotally connected to said element eccentric of said axis to receive motion from saidlelement, said member being. drivably. engaged with said resisting means at a poi-nt spacedtfrom .said axis-.said memberr being substantial-ly radially disposed with respect to .said axis when said. measuring apparatus is in the null position, ,and means constraining said member to substantially linear displacement at said point otengagement with said resisting means, whereby .said --member transmits the angular' dioplacementxof:'saidelement into a linear displacementlatsa-idresisting means.

3*. Theiccmbinaition, in measuring apparatus including; a rotatable element .responsive'to variationvingaV variable4 under measurement, 'and means resisting deflection .to operatively coa'ct Withsa'idV elementv to bring said'apparatus to a .diiereidi` equilibrium ,position` for' each differenti/aine. or" said..i-varialole, of J otherrneans operatively interconnecting saidfmeans fandTsaid element, saidr other means. comprising y.a linkv extendingacross. radiallyro.fsaidielement when said apparatusv isei-n'the :null tposition; lmeans vconlpellingza rst portion of said link to follow the rotational'irno'- tionvofrsaid: element, and other means spaced front-the axis-.:of rotationotisaid .element cone straining: assecond. portonrof `said link' spaced from said.. first portion, Ato substantially linea Y displacementradially of said element.

In?k measuring. apparatus including an element `rotatable` in response to variations in avariable-Auiider 'measurement means for trans-4 mitting'a loadingforce to said 'element comprisingz' a; pair ofli'n'ksA and a yoke-rigidly interconnesting said*` :links: 'said 'links being positioned acrossand'radially of the axis o'fro'tatfion'of'said element Awhen .saidlapparatus :is in fthe nulrllpo'sie tion, said Vyoke' circumventing said lcenter .oil ro.` tationl of said elementi; means :compelling "the outer fend :of one -of said links to Yfollow l:the-rota'.- tion-.=of*said element; means constrainingA fthe outer end' of the *other of said links tosubstan-l tially linear motion,.;and loading meansacting onV` said-outer end-of said other link. Y

V5'; Yaring-balance including a Vrotatable torus; inea-ns forV transmitting al-loadingfforce to' said torus, comprising: a knife-edge'bearing way 'projecting from said tor-usfat the footfofitlie vertical diameterA Ithereof when said torusis' in the null position; a knife-edgefpaired withsa'id way; a rst'- shaft Vprojecting'from said knife edge towardsftliecenter of Vrotation of saidltoruS; a yokefatthe end of -saidrst shaft to circumvent saidl center ofrotation; a second 4shaftlpro'fjecting from said yoke oppositeY said irstwshaft and aligned therewith, said shafts and -said'yoke comprising a rigid linkage; loading 'mea-ns;I a tappet ati-the end -of said second shaftwccntacting 'said loading Vmeans; and means-constraining said tappetto vertical reciprocation. Y v6'.' A ring-balance -device comprising: a rotati-` ab'ly mounted,v hollow torus partially lled liquid and partitioned into two compartments adaptedv to corn-municate'-'witldI `separate'sources of pressure; indicating means vpositioned-by lthe deflection of said torus;r a knife-edge bearing Way 'at the bottom of said-toruswhen said vtorus is Yin theV nul-l position;' a connectingrod, terminating at-fone' end in a knifee'dge paired with said lway and projecting upwardly therefrom to a'point'other than the center ofrotation of said torus; a member, constrained to'linear reciproca#v tion, at the other end of -said connectingflrod, whereby' rotation of said torus displaces said member; and means for resisting the upward stroke 4of said member, thereby applying a loading force through said connecting rod to said torus, lwhich loading force opposes the angular displacementof said torus fromv its nu-l'l position;

7; In a differential pressureV Vmeasuring dee vice including a rotatable torus, meansV for realizing' large increments of torus ldeection` per unitI of applied pressure differential ,near the nullposition, whereby said increments pro`l gressively decrease in size with greater torus displacement, said meanscomprising: a con-'- nec-ting rod of iengthotlier than-the radius of saidl torus, said connecting rod intersecting the axis ofY rotation Aof saidtorus when in the null position, means pivotally connecting one end'of said rod to ysaidv torus; means constraining the other'end 'ofsaid connecting rod to reciprocating motion; spring' means resisting Vthemovement of said reciprocating end; means exhibiting'the" deection of said ftorus; and achart co-acting with said exhibiting means, said chart beingcali-V brated in the lower portion `of its scale in graduations of large increments which 'progressively decrease across fsaidfscaie, whereby said. meter-may be` readumost` accurately in the portion' of its range wherein' the-actuating' ring torques are thefsmallest; I

18,y in'. measuring apparatus including an element rotatably :responsive tovariations in `a vari# able under measurement, the combinatio'nwith said element-ofloading meanscomprising: va rig-idv member positioned'substantially radially of `,said element when said apparatus is in the null'p'osiftion, means compelling a portion of said'memi ber to follow the rotation of said element, means spaced from the axis of rotation of said element for constraining to substantially linear translation another portion of said member spaced from said rst portion, and means for imposing on said other portiona resisting force which varies in substantially direct proportion to the translation of said other portion. l

9. Mechanism for loading the torus of a ringbalance, comprising: a rigid link extending across and substantially radially of said torus when said ring-balance is inthe null position, means pivotally connecting one end of said link to said torus to follow the curvilinear movement thereof, means spaced from the axis of rotation of said torus constraining the other end of said link to substantially straight line motion substantially radially of said torus, and means for imposing on said other end a resisting force which varies in substantially direct proportion to the translation of said other end.

10. A measuring instrument comprising: a rotatable member responsive to pressure variations reflectingv Vthe magnitude of a variable under measurement; means indicating Vthe deilection of said member; a connecting rod intersecting and extending across the axis of rotation of said member when said instrument is in the null position, means pivotally connecting said connecting rod at one end thereof to said member, at a point eccentric of the center of said member; a second member constrained to substantially reciprocal movement, said second member actuated by the other end of said connecting rod upon rotation of said rotatable member; and spring means resisting deilection of said second member, whereby rotation of said rotatable member is opposed.

11. In measuring apparatus including a driven rotative element, the combination With said element of loading means comprising: a rigid link positioned substantially radially of said element when said apparatus is in the null position, means pivotally connecting a portion of said link to said element, means spaced from the axis of rotation of said element constraining another portion of said link to straight-line motion, and loading means actuated by that portion of said link exhibiting said straight-line motion, said loading means including a deflectable Weighted member.

12. Mechanism for loading the torus of a ringbalance, comprising a rigid link extending radially of the axis of rotation of said torus when said ring-balance is in the null position, connecting means causing one end of said link to rotate with said torus, means spaced from said axis of rotation of said torus constraining the other end of said link to substantially straightline motion, and loading means actuated by said other end of said rigid link including a Weighted, deflectable member.

13. In combination with a rotatable torus of a ring-balance, means for transmitting a loading force to said torus, comprising: a rigid link aligned diametrically with said torus when said ring-balance is in the null position, means cornpelling one end of said link to follow the rotation of said torus, means constraining the other end of said link to linear motion, a tappet drivably connected to said other end of said link,

means constraining said tappet to move substantially radially of the axis of rotation of said torus, and a weighted Vmember acting on said tappet to resist deection of said link and said torus.

14. In a measuring device including a rotat- 18" able member and means for exerting torque on said member in accordance with the magnitude of a variable under measurement, other means for loading said member, comprising: a link positioned radially of the axis of rotation of said member when said measuring device is inthe null position, means compelling a portion of said link to follow the rotative motion of said member, other means spaced from said axis of rotation constraining a second portion of said link to substantially linear motion, a lever angularly displaced by said linear motion of said other portion, and means resisting deiiection, said means operatively connected to said second portion of said link through said lever, whereby rotation of said member is opposed by said means resisting deection.

15. Apparatus of the type defined in claim 2, wherein said constraining means for said member comprises a fixed guide element and a tappet slidably paired with said guide element and pivotally paired with said member; and wherein said resisting means comprises a cantilever spring intersecting theline of action of said tappet to resist the stroke thereof.

'16. In apparatus of the type dened in claim 15, means for varying the effective length of said spring, thereby providing adjustment of the maximum operating range of said apparatus.

17. Apparatus of the type described in claim 16, wherein said means for varying the effective length of said spring comprises: a fixed frame member to which said cantilever spring is attached, a block slidably secured to said frame member and including means for adjustably clamping on to said spring, and means for adjustably positioning said block relative to said frame member and said spring, whereby the effective length of said spring is that portion which extends free from said block.

18. Apparatus of the type defined in claim 2, wherein said constraining means for said member comprises a fixed guide element and a tappet slidably paired with said guide element and pivotally paired with said member; and wherein said resisting means comprises a lever intersecting the line of action of said tappet and spring means operatively connected to said lever to resist derlection thereof.

19. Apparatus of the type deiined in claim 1, wherein said constraining means comprises a fixed guide sleeve and a tappet slidable in said sleeve, said tappet pivotally paired with said other portion of said member; and wherein said resisting means comprises a lever positioned to be angularly displaced by said tappet, a spring one end of which is secured to said lever, and means iixing the other end of said spring.

20. In apparatus of the type dened in claim 19, a fulcrum and means for adjusting the position of said fulcrum relative to said lever to vary the ratio of moments about said fulcrum, whereby the magnitude of the force exerted upon said member for a given deection of said tappet may be regulated.

2l. Apparatus of the type dened in claim 2, wherein said constraining means for said member comprises a xed guide element and a tappet slidably paired with said guide element and pivotally paired with said member; and wherein said resisting means comprises a pivoted bell crank having an unweighted arm and a weighted arm, said weighted arm being aligned substantially with the vertical when said torus is in the 19t null position. said tappetf operatively' engaging.; said unweighied arm.

Apparatus. of. the type dened. in. claim. 113,. wherein said loadingY means. comprises a helll crank including e first arm.. dr-.i-vably` connected with: sa-iol.v other portion of. said. link, said: bel-icrank further including a second arm aligned with said link when said measuring appaigatus;

is in the null position., said:v second arm beine threaded alongv a portion. thereof, anda weight threaded onto said threaded portion of said second arm whereby thev maximum operating ra-ngeo said. apparatus may be regulated,

23. Apparatus of the type defined in claim 2, wherein; said resisting means comprises a pivoted link` dlivaniy connected to. said member, andY ai weight adjustably positionable along the lever armof s adlink.

, 24.k Apparatus. of the type. defined in; claimil,` whereinsaidconstraining means comprise 2 fixed guide sleeve and a tappet Slidable in said sleeve,r said tappet pivotailypaired with said. otherv por? tion oi; said link; and wherein. said loading means. comprise a, lever pivoted at one end thereof Yandi positioned substantially perpendicular tothe line oi action of saidv tappet Whensaid apparatus is in the null. position.. said tappei. engaging. said lever EEFERENQIJS. QITED,

The following references are.v of record. the; file: of: thisy patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

